Reuters: Russians From The "African Corps" Came Under Attack In Mali
- 26.04.2026, 8:51
Rebels captured several towns and shelled the airport in the capital.
A large-scale coordinated attack by al-Qaeda militants and Tuareg rebels on military bases has taken place in Mali. The town of Kidal was captured and Bamako airport was attacked.
It was reported by Reuters.
The Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimane (JNIM) organization claimed responsibility for the attacks. They claimed strikes on the capital's airport and towns in the north - Mopti, Sevara and Gao.
The town of Kidal has now been declared "captured" in a joint operation by JNIM and the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA). Tuareg rebels have claimed control of positions in Gao, and in the town of Kati, explosions destroyed the house of Mali's defense minister. Foreign embassies, particularly the US and UK, urged citizens to seek shelter immediately.
What is known about the fighting in Mali
The first explosions went off around 6am near the main military base in Kati. The gunfire there did not subside for more than four hours. The head of the Sahel program at Germany's Konrad Adenauer Foundation Ulf Lessing commented to the agency:
"This looks like the biggest coordinated attack in recent years."
Analysts say the choice of targets was surgically precise. Kati and Bamako are the political heart of the country. And the town of Kidal was a symbol of the army's victory in 2023.
Military commanders in Mali are trying to reassure the population and claim "hundreds of attackers destroyed." A massive mop-up operation has begun in the capital and gold-bearing regions.
As of Saturday afternoon, the army said the situation was under control. However, residents in Gao reported powerful explosions already after the announcement. A nighttime curfew has been imposed in the city.
The junta's failed promises and Russian mercenaries
Reuters notes that the current government led by Assimi Goita came to power through coups, promising peace. But the security situation is only getting worse, which is what is causing the resistance. The junta has brought in Russian mercenaries from the so-called "African Corps" to support the regime.
These mercenaries are accused of numerous crimes against civilians. "African Corps" uses tactics similar to those used by "Wagner" - destroying populated areas, killing civilians, and instilling fear.
Interestingly, JNIM militants claim that they did not attack the regime's Russian mercenaries. The group allegedly wants to build a "balanced and effective future relationship."
At the same time, local media report that the fighting was not only against the official army, but also against Russian mercenaries.